Hi all,

My 2008 Fabia struggled to start for the first time ever today; the starter motor clicked once and the clock and radio died when turning the ignition, but it started up with a higher idle on the third attempt.

There is no charge warning so the alternator is fine im guessing and all seems well after a good run, but I have noticed for a few months that the charge/health indicator built into the battery has never appeared green to me, should the green light be very bright?

Will get a new battery (probably a Bosch) as a matter of course with the colder weather coming, but just wondered if the lack of a green light was a sign the battery was in poor health anyway, and if so it has worked fine for months! Suppose I do relatively decent length runs to keep it topped up.

Thanks for any comments in advance

five year old battery, my have seen better days if only used for short runs, had a battery die after 4 years

 

depends on how much longer you going to keep the car, if you go for a basic relatively cheap battery or something with a 4+ year guarantee

 

but I would start looking and pricing the replacement before you get caught out and have to have what ever the breakdown service has at a nice mark up and fitting charge

http://www.racshop.co.uk/car-battery/battery-health.html

 

You should have a bright green indicator

 

Black = flat

 

White = low electrolyte or duff battery

Thanks for the info guys,

Car is dead this morning, alarm and interior lights ok but the fuel pump doesn't even prime so not going anywhere at the moment! Off to get a new battery, will be getting a good one as the car will be with me for another 3 years minimum all being well.

get a bosch s5 or varta silver series.

 

when fitted, check your charging is ok and that you dont have excessive drain.

Batteries die instantly, just like someone having a heart attack... sonk!!! and it's no-more.

heners54, I'm probably posting too late to be of any help but just in case, here we go! It can be the battery, but I've seen this countless times and often all it can be is the battery terminals need removing, cleaning or tightening or both. I've never myself had a battery die after 5 years but it does happen. Also the earth to the body often becomes corroded and you can see this once you remove it for cleaning (disconnect battery leads first in the correct order). Anyone of these will cause the problem you outline. These issues prevent the battery from starting the vehicle but the lights can still work etc. I'm suspicious of the symptoms because you say the solenoid clicks but nothing happens, but after three attempts it started. That wouldn't happen if the battery was shot. The battery indicator on the top of the battery is not very reliable. Mine has been black for the last year and there is nothing wrong with my battery when I tested it with an amp load gauge. it throws the engine out of the bonnet easily on a cold start! That's a common battery error that leads people to replace the battery needlessly. It may also be a poor connector or dirty connector on the starter motor, or a faulty starter motor. Incidentally, a faulty starter motor will usually try and draw too much current which may explain the lower charge state of the battery and slower turn over of the motor you mention. All very common and all give the symptoms you complain of. All easily fixed. Good luck. 

Edited 25 September, 201312 yr by Estate Man

Batteries die instantly, just like someone having a heart attack... sonk!!! and it's no-more.

this is true, modern batteries just "stop" nowadays! get the best one you can afford

My car's battery died instantly too (Roomster at 4th year), where the indicator was still green 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've put a new battery in and all is well again after retraining the one touch windows and sorting the radio.

Estate Man; I looked at the terminals after removal and they seemed in good condition, skoda coat the connectors with copper grease at every service and it seemed to have preserved them well. However the battery looked to have thick black water in unlike the new Bosch so that might be a sign something had gone wrong.

Good.

 

I would now put Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) on the terminals to stop or slow down corrosion.

 

(I seriously dislike mechanics putting Copper Grease on them,

its messy sometimes when someone goes to jump or boost a battery, and not necessary when someone goes to check terminals, a lazy practice IMO when they could just use the right stuff.)

 

george

Excellent H, well done! 

Just another point to add; I looked carefully at the battery before giving it to the local scrap man and the water was not only black but nearly gone. Also the headlights used to dim when turning at low speeds or wiggling the steering wheel when stationary which they no longer do.

I guess there were a lot of signs that I hadn't acted on that suggested the battery wasn't good, and if I'd have realised this (if the battery didn't have an insulating sleeve it would have been easy) sooner, I would have changed the battery regardless.

Might be useful to anyone with dimming lights, funny glitches with windows etc to check their batteries!

Edited 25 September, 201312 yr by heners54

had one on my Octavia, drove from kent to Bedford with no issue, parked in customer carpark, had to move to a different bay before I even got out of car, turn key and "click"

 

tried jump starting but battery was short circuit, I had hot jump leads

 

had a similar case on swmbo's vrs

 

prior to these two, never have a battery die in such a sudden manner

Just a little point,

that black water is or was 30-50% Sulphuric Acid. 'H2SO4'

 

george